Toy building block



March 21 1933.

F. H. MILLS TOY BUILDING BLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 19:52

F. H. MILLS March .21, 1933- TOY BUILDING BLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1932 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES FRED H. MILLS, OF FORT EDWARD, NEW YORK TOY BUILDING BLOCK I Application filed June 18,

My invention relates to simulative building blocks primarily adapted for use in class rooms for the, education of youth in the construction of various kinds or varieties of buildings or other objects.

A particular aim is to provide a construction wherein the blocks interlock to the end that a built up or simulated structure will. withstand ordinary shaking or impact. Ac-

13 cording to the invention, the roofing blocks are interlocked with their supporting blocks and those blocks between window spaces as well as the corner blocks are interlocked.

Another prime object is to provide a block having a plurality of parallel grooves in the same face thereof adjacent'one or more of its edges to selectively receive tongues of adjacent blocks so that not only a flush effect but a projection may be reproduced in simulation of the eaves of roofs, bases of columns,

spires or the like.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustratin a preferred embodiment wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a simulated school reproduced by means of the im proved blocks;

Figure 2 is a perspective viewof a simulated church reproduced by means of the improved blocks;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of .a structure in the course of erection;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective View of a portion of a porch;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a side wall corner block;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a roofsupportin block;

Figure is a perspective view of a base block;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the block of Figure 5 in another position; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a roof block.

Referrin specifically to the drawings wherein li e reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the difierent views, a multiplicity of individual 1932. Serial No. 618,048.

or separate blocks of wood or any other desired material are employed for erecting or building into various knock-down simulated buildings or objects as best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Most of the blocks are generally rectangular or square. The blocks used for the main portions of side or vertical walls are designated 10 and 11 and the former are detailed in Figures 5 and 8.

Said blocks 10 have central longitudinally extending ribs or tongues 12 on one side thereof and central longitudinally extending grooves 13 on the reverse side thereof. In addition, a transverse groove is provided in blocks 10 intersecting grooves 13 and locatcd adjacent one end of the blocks. The blocks 11 are similar in construction to blocks 10 with the exception that transverse grooves 1% are omitted, the blocks 11 thus having ribsor tongues 15 and longitudinal grooves 16 corresponding to the ribs 12 and grooves 13 of the blocks 10. The blocks 10 and 11 may thus be built up as suggested in Figure 3 by interlocking the described tongues and grooves. Y

It will be noted that by reason of the prov1s1on of grooves 14, a novel interlocking arrangement is provided at the corners of the building or equivalent location to avoid 001- lapsing.

Floor boards or blocks 17 are rectangular but devoid of ribs or tongues. However, they have longitudinal grooves 18 to receive adjacent tongues 12 and 15 and at each end have 5 a plurality of transverse grooves 19 intersecting the grooves 18 and which may selectively interlock with adjacent tongues 12 and 15.

The roof utilizes the blocks 17 with their grooves 19 selectively fitted by tongues or ribs 20 on the inclined surfaces of blocks 21 employed to directly support the roof, these blocks also having tongues 12 and 13 corresponding to those at 12 and 13, respectively, to interfit therewith where desired. Blocks 17 may be supplemented by blocks 17 without longitudinal grooves and blocks 17 with longitudinal grooves arranged in various ways to facilitate building. I

Window openings 21 are provided by spacing the blocks apart, those blocks at the top .of the openings being notched or cut awa to form points or curves to enhance the e ect, if desired, as at 22 and 23, respectively, in Fi ure 2. %locks of the form of those at 10, 11,17, 17 and I7"' ma also be used to. provide a vestibuleor equivalent as at A in Figure 2 and blocks 10 or 11 may project from the front wall adjacent a door opening 24 to support ornamental blocks 21 like those engaging the roof. A number of the blocks 17 although of different size, are shown as representing steps at B in both Figures 1 and 2.

Particular attention is directed to the function of the plurality of grooves 19 in that they selectively receive the adjacent tongues or ribs according to the desire of the user to terminate the roof ends flush with the end walls of the building as in Figure 1 or to project them beyond the end walls and form eaves as in Figure 2. In addition, the same blocks may be used at other locations in a simulated building or object.

Superstructures as at C and D may be built up as in Figures 1 and 2, respectively, their support consisting of a plurality of separate parallel blocks 25 having V-shaped notches 25 whereby they straddle the roof. Upon the blocks 25, further blocks 10, 11, 17 etc. may be built into a belfry, steeple or the like with the aid of base blocks 26 as detailed in Figure 7. Block 26 is rectangular and has a pair of parallel grooves 27 adjacent each edge and in the same face of the block to selectively receive the tongues of adjacent blocks 10 and 1 1. As a result, I can arrange the blocks 26 with their edges flush (as at E in Figure 2) or projecting with respect to adjacentblocks (as at Fin Figure 2) according to the effect desired, thus functioning similar. to grooves 19. 15A pyramidal-block or spire S surmounts block Chimney blocks 28 have V-shaped notches 29 permitting them to straddle the roof.

As detailed-imFigure 4, columns, posts or the like 30 may have a tongue 31 at one'end to fit into an adjacent groove 13 or 13'.

'All of the grooves and tonguesdescribed are substantially rectangular in cross section and of substantially the same width so that while they readily separably engage, there is sufiicient tightness and friction to require manual disassembling.

Theblocks are usually furnished in sets containing a number of each of the different blocks so that practically any desired build;

ing or object may be simulated.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by appended claims.

I claim: I 1. A simulative building block having a plurality of grooves in parallel relation with each other and adjacent at least one marginal edge of the block toselectively receive a tongue of an adjacent block.

2. A simulative building block having a pair of parallel grooves ad acent each of the opposite ends of the block in parallelism with the ends'of the block to selectively receive tongues of adjacent blocks.

4. A simulative buildin block having a pair of parallel grooves ad acent each of the opposite ends of the block in parallelism with the ends of the block to selectively receive tongues of adjacent blocks, and having a longitudinal groove adjacent one side of the block.

5. A simulative roof-supporting block having substantially parallel faces and an inclined roof-engaging surface extending from one face to the other, a longitudinally extending tongue located along and projecting from one of said faces and said surface to interlock with a roof, said block having a groove in its under surface to interlock with a, tongue of an adjacent block.

6-. n combination, a simulative roof-supporting block having an-inclined surface at one end thereof, a tongue projecting from said surface, and a block adapted for angular disposition having a groove receiving said tongue, said groove being located adjacent and substantially parallel to one end of the second mentioned block.

7. In combination, a simulative roof-supporting block having an inclined surface at one end thereof, a tongue projecting from said surface, and a block adapted for angular disposition having a plurality of grooves for selective reception of said tongue, said grooves being located adjacent and substantially parallel to one end of the second mentioned block.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto-subscribed my name.

FRED H. MILLS. 

